Jason Kidd explains the value Jaden Hardy brings for the Mavericks
With the Dallas Mavericks On Monday, the rookie is shorthanded Jaden Hardy He stepped up from the bench and played his best game of this season in a victory over the Utah Jazz.
Hardy had a career high 29 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in the road victory of 124-111. In 25 minutes off the bench, he shot 8 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
The performance by the 37th pick saw him surpass his previous season record of 25 points. His 29 points was the most by a Mavericks rookie player since Luka Doncic (March 2019,).
Jason Kidd, Mavericks Coach, is delighted with Jason’s progress this season.
He is still working. We’re going to have to get him some minutes here. The way he plays, the maturity he displays on the court, and his understanding of how to get the ball to the basket are all impressive. He gives us something that we don’t have and that’s speed. He is a fearless player who can get to the rim. He has demonstrated that he can also playmake.
It came at the right time when the Mavericks needed them most.
Dallas agreed on Sunday Dorian Finney Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie were traded to Brooklyn to get Kyrie Irving, Markieff Mos. The team was also lacking Doncic (heel), Davis Bertans(calf), and Maxi Kleber (hamstring) due to the trade.
The Mavericks are now a serious contender in the Western Conference. This trade shocked the league. The trade also added excitement to the team.
“My first thoughts were it is going to be scary with him and (Luka),” Hardy said. “With him coming here, we’re looking to win ball games. We got a goal and that is to win championships so I feel like with him coming in, it is going to help us a lot.”
He also expressed gratitude to Finney Smith and Dinwiddie for all their help during his rookie year. They gave him advice often and made sure that he was handling his transition to the NBA with ease.
Hardy is enthusiastic about Irving, his new teammate.
“He is never sped up,” Hardy said. “He gets to his spots, knows how to pick his spots. He can finish around the basket and get to his spots. (There are) a variety of different things to his game that makes him so special and one of the top talents in this league.”